DISINFO: OPCW confirmed the absence of a toxic substance in Navalny's samples
SUMMARY
[The creator of Novichok chemical agent] Leonid Rink, in his interview to Dmitry Kiselyov confirmed that OPCW did not find in Navalny’s body traces of a toxic substance. The main evidence is that no phosphorus fragment was identified in Navalny’s samples. Basically, OPCW found traces of something unknown. The fragment that was identified could even refer to a detergent.
RESPONSE
Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about the poisoning of Alexei Navalny. OPCW's report has been misrepresented. OPCW does not directly name Novichok in its conclusions published on the website on 6 October. However, point 5 of the summary mentions that biomarkers found in Navalny's samples "have similar structural characteristics to the toxic chemicals belonging to schedules 1.A.14 and 1.A.15". The chemicals in question have been added to the Chemicals Weapons Convention based on the results of the Skripal poisoning investigation. Both these chemicals are prohibited toxic substances from Novichok group, which means that the OPCW found traces of a known prohibited agent in Navalny's samples, which is definitely not a 'detergent'. As stated by OPCW's Director-General, H.E. Mr Fernando Arias, "these results constitute a matter of grave concern". The UK Delegation to OPCW has also tweeted that ‘OPCW technical analysis confirms that traces of nerve agent from Novichok group were found in bio samples’. Read further debunking by the Insider here.